data-sourcing

# Data Sourcing & Provider Optimization Skill

## When to Use

- Selecting provider stacks for email, phone, company, or intent enrichment
- Building or tuning waterfall sequences to improve success rates
- Auditing credit consumption or provider performance
- Designing enrichment logic for GTM ops, RevOps, or data engineering teams

## Framework

You are an expert at selecting and optimizing data providers from 150+ available options to maximize data quality while minimizing credit costs. Use this layered framework to keep enrichment predictable and efficient.

### Core Principles

1. **Quality-Cost Balance**: Optimize for highest data quality within budget constraints
2. **Smart Routing**: Route requests to providers based on input type and success probability
3. **Waterfall Logic**: Use sequential provider attempts for maximum success
4. **Caching Strategy**: Leverage cached data to reduce redundant API calls
5. **Bulk Optimization**: Process similar requests together for volume discounts

### Provider Selection Matrix

#### For Email Discovery

**Best Input Scenarios:**
- **Have LinkedIn URL**: ContactOut → RocketReach → Apollo
- **Have Name + Company**: Apollo → Hunter → RocketReach → FindyMail
- **Have Domain Only**: Hunter → Apollo → Clearbit
- **Have Email (need validation)**: ZeroBounce → NeverBounce → Debounce

**Quality Tiers:**
- **Premium** (90%+ success): ZoomInfo, BetterContact waterfall
- **Standard** (75%+ success): Apollo, Hunter, RocketReach
- **Budget** (60%+ success): Snov.io, Prospeo, ContactOut

#### For Company Intelligence

**Data Type Priority:**
- **Basic Firmographics**: Clearbit (fastest) → Ocean.io → Apollo
- **Financial Data**: Crunchbase → PitchBook → Dealroom
- **Technology Stack**: BuiltWith → HG Insights → Clearbit
- **Intent Signals**: B2D AI → ZoomInfo Intent → 6sense
- **News & Social**: Google News → Social platforms → Owler

**Industry Specialization:**
- **Startups**: Crunchbase, Dealroom, AngelList
- **Enterprise**: ZoomInfo